Objects: Prior reviews have indicated that antipsychotic drugs may impair planning ability and memory but otherwise may even improve attention and reaction time performance. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of clozapine on cognitive functions and psychopathology in chronic schizophrenic patients. Methods: Neuropsychological tests such as Wisconsin Card Sorting test, Digit Span test and Judgment of Line Orientation test were applied to 21 chronic schizophrenic patients and 15 normal controls. The schizophrenic patients were retested with the same instruments after 3 monthes of treatment period with clozapine. Psychopathology was assessed in the same patients before initiation of clozapine and at 12 weeks using BPRS. Results : Cognitive impairment was found in each measure of executive function, attention, short-term memory and visual perception ability as compared with the normal controls. After 12 weeks of clozapine treatment, signigicant improvement occured in attention, short-term memory and visual perception ability as well as psychotic symptoms including both positive and negative symptoms, but had little effect on executive functions. Conclusion : Short-term treatment with clozapine may possibly improve parts of cognitive functions of chronic schizophrenics, and these effects can contribute to increase capacity for work and social function
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연구대상 및 방법
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